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Bifunctional growth regulator that stimulates the growth of cultured chondrocytes in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) but inhibits the growth of cultured vascular endothelial cells. May contribute to the rapid growth of cartilage and vascular invasion prior to the replacement of cartilage by bone during endochondral bone development. Inhibits in vitro tube formation and mobilization of endothelial cells. Plays a role as antiangiogenic factor in cardiac valves to suppress neovascularization.

This gene encodes a glycosylated transmembrane protein that is cleaved to form a mature, secreted protein. The N-terminus of the precursor protein shares characteristics with other surfactant proteins and is sometimes called chondrosurfactant protein although no biological activity has yet been defined for it. The C-terminus of the precursor protein contains a 25 kDa mature protein called leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-1 or chondromodulin-1. The mature protein promotes chondrocyte growth and inhibits angiogenesis. This gene is expressed in the avascular zone of prehypertrophic cartilage and its expression decreases during chondrocyte hypertrophy and vascular invasion. The mature protein likely plays a role in endochondral bone development by permitting cartilaginous anlagen to be vascularized and replaced by bone. It may be involved also in the broad control of tissue vascularization during development. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Gene RIF (11)

Data suggest ChM1 as potential tumor suppressor in gastric cancer and useful biomarker for the treatment and prognosis. Its expression was downregulated in cancer tissue, and correlated with advanced stages, lymph node metastasis, and poorer prognosis.

intact 20-25 kDa ChM-I is stored as a component of extracellular matrix in the avascular cartilage zones, but it is inactivated by a single N-terminal proteolytic cleavage in the hypertrophic zone of growth-plate cartilage